A festival which celebrates women and girls is being held at Storyhouse this spring.
Storyhouse Women takes place at the Hunter Street venue, 11th-12th March, and has been established after consultation with women’s groups and young people in Chester.
The two-day festival will include talks, discussions, workshops and storytelling.
Among the subjects being tackled are: the menopause, mental health, body image, money and grassroots sports opportunities for girls and women.
Sessions take place on Storyhouse’s main stage, the Garret Theatre, Garret Bar, storytelling room, meeting room and kitchen.
Events are either free or capped at £5.
Storyhouse creative director Suzie Henderson said: “I’m so pleased Storyhouse can present this fantastic new festival this spring, celebrating Chester’s women and girls and helping them to flourish.
“We consulted women and young people across the city and the surrounding area, and they told us what was important to them.
“The programme, created with the community, looks at a wide range of issues from mental health and the menopause to sporting opportunities for girls and women of all ages.
“Festival-goers can expect to hear from a whole host of leading speakers and practitioners who are all passionate about their expert fields, and I know everyone who attends – whether they’re 8 or 80 – will find the weekend enlightening and stimulating. I know I will.”
Saturday 11th March 2023
Storyhouse Women opens on Saturday 11th March with Girls and Women in Football.
The success of England’s Lionesses in the 2022 Euros put women’s football firmly in the spotlight.
The event – on the main Storyhouse stage – will see a panel of high profile women who work in the sport enjoy a relaxed discussion involving their own personal stories and the young people they are coaching and mentoring.
The panel will include former Liverpool and Manchester City player – and founder of the Miss Kick sportwear brand and Foundation – Grace Vella and Lowri Teagan Earith, founder of Girls and Goals.
How to Support your Mental Health When You’re Self-Employed will be discussed in the Garret Theatre, where TEDx speaker and entrepreneur Cody Gapare and coach Marie-Claire Ashcroft will share personal stories about the challenges they have faced navigating building their own businesses, the pandemic and mental health.
The Garret is also the location for The Female Brain and Hormones.
Historically, mental health research has been focused on males, but here psychotherapist Gemma Leathley and therapeutic outreach worker Michaela Dalton will explore the current findings of research into female brain development from right before birth into later life, and how hormone cycles mean everything we know is ‘true’ is true only for men.
Commonwealth boxing champion, and talented footballer, Stacey Copeland will also take to the Garret stage to talk about her story and sporting achievements, the foundation in 2017 of her charity Pave the Way, and challenging gender stereotypes and promoting gender equality in sport.
Then, the Garret Bar hosts How to Manage Your Money an hour-long session with the community team from the NatWest who will share top tips on how to manage your money.
This will be followed by Dealing With Change, a therapeutic workshop using art to deal with a life change and run by Polish designer Kasia Pikula and Chester-based art therapist Rachel Clarke, and later there will be a Mental Health First Aid Kit Workshop in the company of mental health charity founder Ruth Williams.
Meanwhile youngsters aged 6-10 can get involved in Feminist Den with fun, friendly games and conversation for budding feminists in the Storytelling Room.
Three sessions will be run by Storyhouse’s Youth Theatre Leaders Molly and Lottie.
Finally, in the Garret Theatre, festival goers can try Cooking on a Budget.
This sessions brings an hour of conversation and cooking in the company of food lovers Bhupinder Virdee-Lace and Lisa Hinze.
There will also be an audience Q&A and a chance to sample what’s cooked.
Sunday 12th March 2023
The festival continues on Sunday 12th March with another full range of fascinating events and sessions throughout the building.
Head to the Storyhouse stage for How to be a Better Communicator, an interactive workshop in which Maggie Chen from Girls in Charge will guide people through the steps needed for effective communication, confidence and networking in a real and digital world.
This will be followed by Using Movement for Overcoming Negative Body Image.
Join Fallen Angels Dance Theatre’s Claire Morris and community dancers from Storyhouse’s company in residence as they stage an intimate performance, open discussion on negative body image and a movement workshop.
Mental health nurse and children’s cognitive behavioural therapist Cara Lisette will talk about Mental Health and Social Media.
This session is aimed at anyone aged 11 and over, and will also include a panel discussion with Storyhouse Youth Theatre assistant and young programmers coordinator Phoebe Orsmond, a member of Young Storyhouse Leaders and Manchester-based mental health charity 42nd Street.
Then Ella Rose Dove will be interviewed by broadcaster and keen triathlete Louise Minchin.
Ella is a journalist, author, speaker and trustee of the Limbless Association and herself lost her right leg below the knee in a freak jogging accident.
This event will include and audience Q&A.
The former BBC Breakfast Time presenter will then be joined by Dr Helen Kini for a conversation about the menopause, their own personal experiences and how it can have an impact on a woman’s career.
Over the last couple of years the pair have been on a mission to visit companies, change policy and educate women and girls keen to find out more.
Meanwhile the neighbouring Garret Bar hosts the talk and workshop Menopause: A Transition to Wise Woman in which midwife and menopause expert Samantha Bull explains how Western society has come to see the menopause as a condition that needs treatment.
There will also be guided relaxation and meditation, and those taking part will also have the opportunity to book one of four one-to-one womb healing massages which will take place in the Storyhouse Meeting Room.
Budding entrepreneurs should head to the How to Sell Handmade Products Online in which graphic artist and successful online seller Becka Griffin will share invaluable tips on the different internet platforms, along with packaging and postage options, legalities, product descriptions and search engine optimisation (SEO).
There will be three Incredible Women for Kids storytelling sessions during the day in the storytelling room, where members of the Storyhouse library team and Young Leaders will read aloud from the inspiring Little People, Big Dreams books.
Throughout the weekend comedian, improviser and festival compere Kate McCabe will be in the Storyhouse kitchen, introducing events and making sure everyone gets the most out of the festival.
Find out more and book: www.storyhouse.com/storyhouse-women
FULL LISTINGS
Kate McCabe – Compere
Date: Saturday 11th March – Sunday 12th March
Time: 10.30-3pm (Sat) 11.30-3.30pm (Sun)
Venue: The Kitchen
Tickets: Free
Girls and Women in Football
Date: Saturday 11th March
Time: 11am-12pm
Venue: Storyhouse Stage
Tickets: £5
How to Manage Your Money
Date: Saturday 11th March
Time: 11am-12pm
Venue: Garret Bar
Tickets: free
Feminist Den (for Under 10s)
Date: Saturday 11th March
Time: 11am, 1pm and 2pm
Venue: Storytelling Room
Tickets: Free
How to Support your Mental Health When You’re Self-Employed
Date: Saturday 11th March
Time: 11am-12pm
Venue: Garret Theatre
Tickets: £5
10 Mins with the Expert
Date: Saturday 11th March
Time: 1-2pm
Venue: Storyhouse Stage
Tickets: £5
Dealing With Change
Date: Saturday 11th March
Time: 1-2pm
Venue: Garret Bar
Tickets: £5
Cooking on a Budget
Date: Saturday 11th March
Time: 1-2pm
Venue: Garret Theatre
Tickets: £5
Stacey Copeland: Pave the Way
Date: Saturday 11th March
Time: 3-4pm
Venue: Garret Theatre
Tickets: £5
Mental Health First Aid Kit Workshop
Date: Saturday 11th March
Time: 3-4pm
Venue: Garret Bar
Tickets: £5
Alex Light: You’re Not Your Best Before Picture
Date: Saturday 11th March
Time: 3-4pm
Venue: Storyhouse Stage
Tickets: £5
How to be a Better Communicator
Date: Sunday 12th March
Time: 12-1pm
Venue: Storyhouse Stage
Tickets: £5
Mental Health and Social Media
Date: Sunday 12th March
Time: 12-1pm
Venue: Garret Theatre
Tickets: £5
Menopause: A Transition to Wise Woman
Date: Sunday 12th March
Time: 12-1pm
Venue: Garret Bar
Tickets: £5
Incredible Women for Kids – Storytelling Session
Date: Sunday 12th March
Time: 12pm, 2pm and 3.30pm
Venue: Storytelling Room
Tickets: Free
The Female Brain and Hormones
Date: Sunday 12th March
Time: 2-3pm
Venue: Garret Theatre
Tickets: £5
Feminist Zine Making
Date: Sunday 12th March
Time: 2-3pm
Venue: Garret Bar
Tickets: £5
Womb Healing Fertility Massage
Date: Sunday 12th March
Time: 2pm, 2.30pm, 3pm and 3.30pm
Venue: Meeting Room
Tickets: Free
Ella Rose Dove interviewed by Louise Minchin
Date: Sunday 12th March
Time: 2-3pm
Venue: Garret Theatre
Tickets: £5
Menopause with Louise Minchin and Dr Helen Kini
Date: Sunday 12th March
Time: 3.30-4.30pm
Venue: Garret Theatre
Tickets: £5
Using Movement for Overcoming Negative Body Image
Date: Sunday 12th March
Time: 3.30-4.30pm
Venue: Storyhouse Stage
Tickets: £5
Becka Griffin: How to Sell Handmade Products Online
Date: Sunday 12th March
Time: 3.30-4.30pm
Venue: Garret Bar
Tickets: £5
